Social Realities of the Builsa District in Ghana Essay Example

assorted research design which as been defined by Johnson et al. , ( 2007:123 ) as the type of research in which a research worker or a squad of research workers combine elements of qualitative and quantitative research attacks ( e.g. usage of qualitative and quantitative research point of views, informations aggregation analysis illation techniques ) for both wide intents of comprehensiveness and deepness of apprehension and documentation.

The equilibrating application of these attacks makes informations better-off and excess creditable to the public sphere. Surveies and experiments for informations assemblage and statistical scrutiny and production of issues in the signifier of graphs, per centums, tabular arraies and distributions are all what entails in quantitative research whereas qualitative research chiefly involves more explanatory and descriptive. In amount, qualitative research refers to the significances, constructs, definitions, peculiarity, metaphors, cryptograph and descriptions of things while in disparity quantitative research trades with the counts and steps of things ( Brockington and Sullivan, 2003 ; Mayoux, 2006 ; Berg, 2001 ) .

This research dwelled on both methods so as to bask the benefit from the virtues of both methods. This is because, societal phenomena are good investigated, if both methods are used successfully ( Strauss and Corbin, 1990 ; Neuman, 2003 ; PHI, 2005 ) .

In this research, in-depths into the what, how, when and why between the survey variables and issues within the socio-cultural contexts of the countries were achieved through qualitative informations aggregation. One the other manus, quantitative attack in the signifier of structured questionnaires were used in informations aggregation, pieces at the same clip, quantitative information analyses were prepared by utilizing Statistical Package for Social Sciences ( SPSS

) refering to demography, correlativities between variables and anything quantifiable. Thus information analyses were made further clear, wide-ranging and enlightening.

Brown ( 1996 ) set the records straight when he concluded that, where the research issue is clearly defined and the inquiries put requires unambiguous replies, a quantitative attack may be appropriate. One the other side of the coin, where the research issue is less distinct and the inquiries to respondents are likely to ensue in complex, dianoetic answers, qualitative methods are appropriate. The research has been disposed excess to the qualitative attack as attending was paid to four instance survey countries for the elucidation of the issues in their countries. The penchant to analyze farther towards qualitative survey is for the ground that qualitative survey permits the research worker looks through a wider lens seeking for forms of interrelatednesss between an earlier undetermined set of constructs ( Bacho, 2001 ) .

Profile of the Study Area

An information bank of any given country serves as its profile. This subdivision gives a brief study of the physical conditions and societal worlds of the Builsa District of the Upper East part of Ghana with accents on the survey communities.

Research Location

The research location is the Builsa District of the Upper East part and focused on four communities ' two  each in the Builsa North Constituency and the Builsa South Constituency. They were purposively selected in the territory for in-depth surveies and to do inductive scrutiny thereof.

• The Builsa District was purposively selected because of its rural in nature and preponderantly agricultural base with production related dazes as a consequence of hapless rains or plagues invasion affect 68 % of families
  

( DHDR, 2004 ) .

Geographic Location and Physical Features of Study District

The survey country is the Builsa territory of the Upper East part. It covers a geographical country of 2,220 sq. kilometer. which constitutes % of the entire land country of the Upper East part and % of the entire land country of Ghana with population of 75,375 as at 2000 and an mean one-year growing rate of about 0.82 % The population denseness based on the land surface is about 34 individuals per sq. km while 76.6 % of the economically active population depends on subsistence nutrient cropping as the prevailing business with really low degrees of marketed excess ( GSS,2000 ; DHDR,2004 ) .

The District has a tropical Savannah clime with average monthly temperatures runing between 21.9A°C and 34.1A°C. Another of import characteristic qualifying the territory 's nutrient supply state of affairs is the deficiency of modern engineering: harvest production for the most portion is about entirely dependent on rainfall, and therefore affected besides by the planetary fluctuations in temperatures and precipitation forms which have increased in the last decennary. The individual rainfall government, starts in April, builds up in August and ends in mid-October, therefore rendering the territory water-deficient. In add-on, its cyclic scenery permits the frequence of bushfires and the desolation of flora

and nutrient harvests really lofty ( GSS, 2000 ; DHDR, 2004 ) .

Despite the fact that the territory has a comparatively low population force per unit area on land with the laterality of agricultural activities, notably cereals, dwelling of sorghum and millet, which are the basic nutrient harvests, together with rice and maize nutrient insecurity has been overruling. Four  communities were purposively chosen for the research because of their strategic locations. The communities are Sandema, Wiaga, Fumbisi and Wiese. Details grounds sing their choices follows in due class.

Research Design

Research design is really critical in societal research as it enables research workers in the pick of suited device in their geographic expedition to land at converting decision.

Harmonizing to ( Babbie, 2004:74 ) research design " is a program or design of how you intend carry oning the research procedure in order to work out the research job '' . A MMR attack was the research design adopted but the research worker was nevertheless more focussed on qualitative than quantitative survey. Indispensable characteristics of qualitative research were outlined by Babbie ( 2004 ) as follows:

• The grounds required to turn to the research inquiry adequately
• The sort of planned survey every bit good as the consequence to be achieved
• Percept of participants and their background

Sing the aforesaid features the research worker opted for a multiple instance survey affecting four ( 4 ) communities which were identified during a preliminary probe on the subject in the territory. As a consequence, the research design that was considered for the survey was the multiple instance survey method.

Twumasi ( 2001 ) Concords with Yin ( 1993 ) that multiple instance survey

method is desirable when

• Subjects are mostly but non hardly defined,
• Several but non peculiar beginnings of cogent evidence are to be relied upon and,
• Background fortunes but non the discernible fact of the survey is to be covered.

The positions of the two as indicated above agree with the aim of my research. Paramount issues including attacks to nutrient insecurity, nutritionary dimensions every bit good as the bing nutrient security schemes of the survey communities were examined by the usage of qualitative method.

• Groundwork study conducted continuing this survey have discovered four  contexts in which the subject can be studied in the territory. These contexts scope from socio-political dimensions of nutrient security schemes.
• Communities which have benefited from some signifier of nutrient security schemes like NGOs intercessions.
• Communities with big markets such as Funbisi and Sandema were assortments of groceries could be obtained. Funbisi community was selected because it is regarded as the nutrient basket in the Builsa territory. Sandema community is besides of peculiar involvement since it is the territory capital and besides housed the paramount head of the Builsa traditional country
• Communities with little market sizes or no organized market like Wiaga and Wiesi severally.

Communities which fall under the two constituencies in the territory such as Sandema and Wiaga falling under Builsa North constituency pieces Funbisi and Wiesi are captured under the Builsa South constituency.

Case Study Areas

Sandema Traditional Area

Sandema is the administrative territory capital of the Builsa District of the Upper East part and about 36km from Bolgatanga, the regional capital. In add-on, it serves as the constituency capital of the Builsa North with a population of approximately 22 % of the territory

figure. It was purposively selected as a survey community because of its propinquity to other countries which are outside the survey territory. In add-on it houses to the paramount head of the Builsa traditional country.

Most of the dirts are suited for agricultural activities as a consequence of less presence of Fe pan bowlders, happening of Fe pan at shallow deepnesss, stone outcrops and small profile development in some of these dirts ( BDMTDP, 2002-2004 ) . Sandema can besides tout of three irrigation dikes with the position of turn toing nutrient security. There are legion watercourses and river feeders of the White Volta including the Tono, Asebelika and Sissili which passes through Sandema ( DHDR, 2004 ; PHC, 2000 ) . As the territory capital, Sandema can besides tout of the activities of NGOs.

Finding from this community enabled me to compare and contrast nutrient security schemes by these groups in the communities.

Wiaga Community

Wiaga is home to approximately 18 % of the territory population and agricultural is the chief stay of the working force. Like Sandema, Wiaga besides comes under Builsa North Constituency and serves as a cardinal point to Sandema, Kadema and Funbisi where nutrient is produced in abundant. Wiaga had benefited from the activities of NGOs in guaranting nutrient security. In add-on, the community can tout of two irrigation dikes for dry season agricultural activities.

Most of families have small cultivable land and therefore hold to depend to a great extent on imported nutrient from Fumbisi and Kadema every bit good as southern Ghana to supplement what is cultivated internally. My pursuit for a research location landed me in Wiaga to analyze the impact of

the nutrient security intercession due to its little market size.

Finding from this community enabled me to measure the parts of the irrigation installations and silos in turn toing nutrient security in the country.

Funbisi Community

The pick of a community in the territory that constitutes the survey was determined by high dirt quality, big market size which is organised in every six yearss and high nutrient production and as such, the batch fell on Fumbisi. However, the market is yet to self-praise of equal shops and warehouses installations notwithstanding its part to the growing of the local economic system. In add-on, it is the constituency capital of the Builsa South and about 60km from Yagaba ( in West Mamprusi territory ) and about 51km from Bolgatanga the regional capital. It is believed to be the finish of Fulani migrators.

Agribusiness in the country is still the anchor of the economic system of the Builsa territory ; therefore being the chief nutrient bring forthing country of the territory, due to its advantageous topographic and climatic characteristics. The shocking route web system in the country ; peculiarly during the rainy season nevertheless, renders the country non motorable thereby earnestly limit the degree of nutrient handiness in the community market.

Wiesi Community

Wiesi is selected because of three chief grounds. First, it is a typical rural community with no electricity, hapless accessible route web every bit good as deficiency of organized market for economic activities. As a consequence, a greater proportion of husbandmans encounter jobs of hauling their excess nutrient material to other selling Centres for sale. Emphasis was on how deficiencies of these installations have negative impact on nutrient security.

Second, Wiesi falls

under the Builsa South constituency and has produced two Members of Parliament since 1992 when Ghana returned into a constitutional regulation including the current 1. Here, accent was to happen out whether those political figures had/or have influence on guaranting nutrient security in the country ( EC, 1997, 2009 ) .

Finally, unlike Sandema, Fumbisi and Wiaga, this country is yet to self-praise of a individual irrigation installation to ease dry season agriculture. Carefully designed questionnaires were administered to 30 household caputs, husbandmans every bit good as other land users in each survey country.

Sampling Procedures and Techniques

Babbie and Mouton ( 2004:164 ) opined that sampling is the procedure of choosing observations. Despite the fact that in societal research a whole universe of possible observations can be made, cipher can detect everything. Babbie and Mouton ( 2004:164 ) opined that sampling is the procedure of choosing observations. The logic behind sampling is to do generalisation or to depict illations based on samples sing the parametric quantities of population from which the samples are taken ( Yin, 1993 ) . The research worker 's demand is to take merely few points from the existence for the principle of the survey Miller ( 1991 ) .

Probability and non chance samplings are two chief techniques that exist in trying in societal research. In chance trying every unit of the mark population has an equal calculable and zero chance of being included in the sample ( Panneerselvan, 2007 ; Babbie and Mouton, 2004 ) . Besides, in non chance trying the research workers purposively choice topics who in their judgement are appropriate to the survey ( Maxwell, 2007 ; Sarantako, 2004

) . This research made usage of a mixture of both chance and non chance samplings.

Choice of Study District and Household Communities

Maxwell ( 1997:87 ) defines purposive sampling as "type of trying in which" peculiar scenes, individuals, or event are intentionally selected for the importance information they can supply that can non be gotten every bit good from other picks '' . Purposive trying methods were employed in the choice of the survey part. The Builsa territory was selected because bulk of the population is engaged in nutrient production ( DHDR, 2004 ) . Food security in Ghana is characterized by geographical, occupational and gender magnitude.

Geographically, nutrient security in northern Ghana chronic and occupationally affects more harvests agriculturists so hard currency harvest husbandmans and while in gender footings ; it is rampant among females than their male opposite numbers ( GSS, 2000, GPRS I & A ; II ) . The territory is chiefly a rural country with a poorness rate of 88 % , while bulk of its inhabitants are harvest husbandmans, who depend fundamentally on land for their survivour ( GSS, 2000 ; Song Sore and Denkabe, 1995 ) .

It is based on the above that the territory was purposively chosen for the survey.

Sampling of the Communities

Study communities were purposively chosen to reflect geographical, demographic and political dimensions in the countries. The choice was informed by earlier visit to the instance survey countries. The grounds for their choices are

• Communities which have benefited from NGOs activities.
• Communities with big population size.
• Communities with little population size.
• Communities with different political location.

All these communities were purposively selected to accomplish the coveted intent of the

survey. Sandema and Wiaga were chosen because of big and little market sizes severally, denseness populated every bit good as belonging to the same constituency. The inclusion of Fumbisi and Wiesi on the other manus emanated from their big and little market size severally, every bit good as belonging to the same constituency.

Sampling Unit of measurements

Karma ( 1999 ) states that, finding of trying size is at the judgement of the research worker. Hence purposive sampling was adopted to choose establishments because of their importance functions in nutrient security. State establishments such as MoFA, BDA and NGOs were interview. These establishments were carefully chosen because of their diverse functions in nutrient security direction.

The Migrant, Youth and Women, Magazia, Tengnyona every bit good as Chiefs were purposively selected for the research. Families were indiscriminately chosen for the disposal of questionnaires. My pick of the sample unit was prejudiced by available clip and resources, nature of the survey object and homogeneousness of the mark population.

Data Collection Strategies and Instruments Employed

In general there are two major attacks used in societal research in garnering informations.These are the primary and secondary informations beginnings ( Miller, 1991 ; Flick, 2002 ) . It is, nevertheless, of import to observe that the choice of a peculiar attack to roll up informations must be decided upon in the visible radiation of 1s job, the intent of the survey, the resources available and the accomplishments of the research worker. Therefore, in doing a determination on the type of informations aggregation method, the research worker must maintain in head the class of people he is covering with, the view of the societal fortunes, the temperament

of the societal scene and the psychological science of the people ( Grady, 1998 ) .

In position of that secondary informations beginnings were obtained through documental beginnings such as books, diaries, magazines and cyberspaces while, primary informations were derived from the field through the undermentioned attacks:

Questionnaire

Questionnaires are written list of inquiries, the replies to which are recorded by respondents. The questionnaire attack was used in both formal and non-formal establishments including resource users. Saunders et al. , ( 1997 ) argued that the pick of utilizing questionnaires is prejudiced by a multiplicity of factors such as features of the respondents from which information is collected ; kind of inquiries needed to be asked to roll up informations ; and.number of inquiries needed to be asked to roll up informations. Structured and semi structured questionnaires are the two types of questionnaire used in societal research. Open-ended questionnaires are employed and respondents are at freedom to supply any responses in semi-structured questionnaires, while in structured questionnaires predetermined closed-ended replies are provided for respondents to choose from ( Karma, 1999 ; Twumasi, 2001 ) .

Both structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used to determine positions about nutrient security in the territory. Structured questionnaires were used to determine information from both province establishments and traditional establishments. Four  questionnaires were administered to four forces each from the MoFA, BDA every bit good as traditional establishments such as heads, Tengnyona, Women and Youth leaders. The usage of structured questionnaires was supplemented by open-ended questionnaire for caputs of both formal and informal establishments to obtain deeper penetrations from them on nutrient security dimensions.

In add-on, both structured and unstructured questionnaires were administered family caputs

in survey communities. This research defines family as a family consists of a group of individuals related by blood, matrimony, or acceptance, including other individuals, such as house-help or farm laborers, if any, who usually live together in one house or closely related premises and take their repasts from the same kitchen and looks at one individual who they regard as the caput. '' ( Hichaambwa, Beaver, Chapoto and Weber, 2009:9 ) . In all, 120 structured questionnaires and 30 semi-structured family questionnaires were completed in the communities.

Interviews

Karma ( 1999 ) states that interview is any individual to individual interaction between two or more persons with a exact aim in head. The two classs known as structured and unstructured were employed for the survey. In utilizing the unstructured interview attack, besides known as the in-depth interview, reasonably smaller figure of inquiries regarded as significance to the object of the survey are chosen and pursued in much greater point, both intensively and extensively ( Kumekpor, 2002 ) .

The principle for utilizing this attack was to organize a follow-ups exercising on issues that require extra inquiring. Hence, this attack was adopted to seek in-depth information from Chiefs, Tengnyona, Household Heads, Farmer Group every bit good as Young person leaders.

Secondary Beginnings

A research worker who uses secondary informations derives a batch of benefits comparative to research workers utilizing primary informations in position of the fact that the information antecedently exist and as such can be assessed before it use Stewart and Kamins ( 1993 ) as cited in Saunders et al. , ( 1997 ) .

Harmonizing to Hart ( 2001:1 ) " the usage of literature reappraisal is to

warrant the peculiar attack to the subject, the choice of methods and the presentation that this research contribute to something new. '' As a consequence, the plants of earlier authors were acknowledged as they assisted me to map the manner frontward in all degrees of the research. As such, literature was reviewed through many paperss on the capable affair such as magazine s, books, cyberspace, and diaries among others.

Focus Group Discussions ( FGDs )

Focus Group Discussions ( FGDs ) are deep interactions with people of a homogenous of between 6 and 12 individuals, which enabled the research worker to obtain information in a peculiar country of involvement that would be hard if non impossible to obtain utilizing other methodological processs. It allows the research worker greater penetrations into why people thinks or hold certain sentiments. Krueger ( 1988: 18 ) outlines the characteristics of a FGD as interviews:

• With people totaling between seven and , who
• Possess certain features ( comparatively ) homogeneous and unfamiliar but knowing on the subject of concern, to
• Provide informations
• Of a qualitative nature and
• In a focussed way.

FGD is based on non-probabilistic purposive sampling with participant who appear knowing in the subject to seek information from them. Undeniably, the cardinal virtue of FGDs harmonizing to Morgan ( 1997:8 ) provide the research worker with the chance to detect a big sum of interaction on a subject in a limited period of clip based on the research worker 's ability to assemble and direct focal point groups ''

In this survey, the FGDs method was employed as support to questionnaires studies and was besides meant to clarify issues non captured in the

questionnaires to beg diverse perceptual experiences on nutrient security from the position points of formal and informal establishments, husbandmans every bit good as sentiment leaders in the instance survey countries. FGDs were accordingly held with Magazias, Chiefs, Migrants, every bit good as Young person leaders. Information on different perceptual experiences of nutrient security and the attack in advancing nutrient security from the position point of these groups were gotten from this beginning. FGDs can be regarded as a signifier of group in-depth interviewing ( Simeon, 2004 ) .

While make up one's minding on the size of a sample, the research worker must find the coveted preciseness and besides an acceptable assurance degree for the estimations ( Saunders et. al 1997 ) . An optimum sample is one which fulfils the demands of representativeness, efficiency and flexibleness.

Data Analysis

Data analysis is regarded as the calculation of certain steps along with seeking for forms of relationships that exist among informations groups ( Karma, 1999 ) . In analyzing informations in general, Yin ( 1993, ) besides agrees that a figure of closely related operations are performed with the intent of sum uping the information collected and forming them in such a mode that they answer the research inquiry.

Both qualitative ( descriptive ) and quantitative ( SPSS ) were employed to analyze cardinal issues at interest. The SPSS analysis used to find relationship between variables in the signifier of graphs, chi-square frequences, cross-tabulations, charts, among other survey ( Leech et al. , 2005 ) .hence quantitative informations analysis from the SPSS were farther explained by qualitative agencies consisting sources ' readings in the signifier of narratives. This goes to

augment Yin ( 1993, 2006 ) that information analysis was non a separate measure coming after informations aggregation but an ceaseless and coincident process. The SPSS analysis was done subsequently in the office and illations cross-checked in the field.

de Vries ( 1991 ) informations aggregation procedure were adopted where, qualitative field notes captured on day-to-day footing on conversations, interviews and narratives related to nutrient security issues during group treatments and interactions with specialised groups were analysed after the yearss work. The principle was to look for consistences and incompatibilities between knowing sources and happening out why sources agree or disagree on of import issues on the capable affair ( Benard, 1990 ) .

Simple quantitative operations from questionnaires were tabulated and processed on the field while statistical analyses of informations were done on return from the field. Data analysis lasted for one month.

Data Reliability and Validity

Cogency refers to the extent to which questionnaire or study measures what it intends to mensurate. That is the rightness and utility of the specific illations ( American Psychological Association, 1985 ; Schweigert, 1998 ) . Reliability is a feature of the instrument itself, but cogency comes from the manner the instrument is employed ( Evensen, 2007 ) .

The overruling rule of cogency is that it focuses on how a questionnaire or appraisal procedure is used. To guarantee dependability and cogency, the assorted methods attack every bit good as a multiple information aggregation method is adopted. In add-on, day-to-day review of chief issues and followups on issues of contention on field, every bit good as proof of chief findings in the instance survey community are all to guarantee that informations collected

are both valid and dependable. The research focused on nutrient security as such developed a resonance made with community leaders and seniors on the intent of the survey. Research helpers who know the length and comprehensiveness of the countries were hired and trained for the work.

Data Handling

Desk reappraisals were firmly put in files while soft transcripts were saved on pen thrusts. Daily summaries out of cardinal issues from the communities were typed out and saved on computing machines.

Four notebooks stand foring each community were set aside carefully where respondents information sorted and coded were recorded for simple retrieval. The SPSS informations base system was used to come in the hebdomadal information from the structured questionnaire.

Data Collection Phases

The survey was conducted in three phases viz. the reconnaissance study, chief study and in-depth study ( Millar, 1996 ) .

Reconnaissance Survey Phase

This stage entails reading and discoursing extended issues on nutrient security which afforded me the opportunity to come out with both the subject and the survey country. It is at this phase that I made debut visits to some communities. It was during this phase that I seized the chance to place my ego with the relevant traditional establishments ( heads, and non-traditional establishments ) .

It besides included the authorship of the research proposal and informations aggregation instrument every bit good the reappraisal of literature.

Main Survey Phase

In the chief study phase the existent informations were collected from survey communities and establishments. It was fundamentally the primary informations aggregation section.

However it besides included preliminary informations analysis in the signifier of day-to-day field informations aggregation debriefing and sum-ups.

In-depth Survey Phase

This is the phase where all informations collected were methodically

analysed to convey to illume the relationships between the assorted variables in the survey. Qualitative informations collected were coded and put in the SPSS and analyses. At this stage, auxiliary information were collected through treatments.

Follow up visits were made to relevant respondents through the usage of `` tracer study '' or `` tracts '' analysis to gripe up related informations ( Springer-Heinze et al. , 2003 ) . This stage lasted for one month.

The Research Process

The kernel of societal research is to follow a logical enquiry of event, construing it and come out with a logical decision. But before one can detect and analyse, one needs a program. The program used as the design to put to death the research journey follows.

The research procedure as illustrated in Fig. started with the construct of the research job and the debut and the background to it, on the premises that nutrient security drama dominant function for the well-being of the people of Builsa community and that a batch of attending must be paid to copulate the Builsa territory nutrient deficit-free. Hence a scheme that aimed at guaranting nutrient handiness and handiness should be embraced.

Therefore, my research inquiries and aims were shaped in this respect. Literature was reappraisal was so reexamine taking into consideration the research inquiry and aims. Subsequently, informations aggregation which is the following measure was conducted in three stage 's vis-a-vis reconnaissance stage, chief study stage and in-depth study. This so led me to data analysis and recommendation for policy influencing and action, development consideration and part to knowledge on the topic under consideration.